Ask the experts: Adam Ruck advises a reader on the best way to travel
by train to Amsterdam with a bicycle

Mary McFeely writes I want to travel to Holland with my teenage son on Eurostar at the beginning of July, taking our bikes with us. Do you know about travel on trains with bikes from Amsterdam to places from where we could cycle?

Adam Ruck, cycling expert, replies Eurostar bookings open four months in advance, but if you’re flexible about timing, there are still plenty of cheap fares midweek in early July. The key rule is to book as far ahead as possible and travel at quieter times. Consult the timetables for Eurostar at eurostar.com. If you’re prepared to dismantle the bikes and pack them in bike bags, you can take them on Eurostar to Brussels and the high-speed Thalys from Brussels to Amsterdam. (Note the size restrictions for bike bags.) If not, you can book spaces for the bikes on Eurostar (£30 each one way) by calling Eurodespatch (0844 822 5822) after booking your seats. But for onward travel to Amsterdam you will need to use the indirect IC trains – changing at Rotterdam, typically – and pay a small supplement for the bikes. The logistics of this are explained in detail on seat61.com/bike-by-train.htm. And when dealing with Eurodespatch at St Pancras, check the paperwork they give you. Both times I have done it, the details were wrong. Taking your bikes out of Amsterdam by train is unlikely to be a problem. Most trains have bike carriages, and the not-during-rush-hour restrictions don’t apply in July. A day ticket for a bike costs €6 (£5).

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